June 27, 2001 – Fifty-four V.I. government employees from 22 departments and agencies are getting specialized training via computer, taking just a few of literally thousands of courses that are available from the U.S. Department of Interior.
The Personnel Division launched the on-line training program earlier this month.
"The pilot will run for four months and is divided into three phases," Personnel director Joanne U. Barry said. "The first phase targets the government information technology professionals."
These individuals, she said, are taking courses in Cisco Internetworking Technologies and Interconnecting Cisco Network Devices. Upon completing the courses and passing an examination, they will become Cisco Certified Network Architects. The CCNA is a "globally recognized certificate," Barry said.
The second phase of the program will be for employees who are volunteer trainers for Personnel's Virgin Islands Training Initiative program. They will enroll in Microsoft Word 2000 and Excel 2000 courses with the aim of becoming certified as Microsoft Office-user specialists.
The third phase is for Personnel staff and the personnel officers of various departments. They will take an on-line course in sexual harassment awareness and human resource management essentials.
In partnership with the Interior Department's National Business Center, Barry said, her division can offer more than 3,500 different training courses in technical and soft skills to V.I. government employees at reduced cost. The courses are offered through Interior's on-line DOI University.
For more information, see Information Technology or Skillsoft Courses.
PERSONNEL OFFERING ON-LINE TRAINING COURSES
June 27, 2001 – Fifty-four V.I. government employees from 22 departments and agencies are getting specialized training via computer, taking just a few of literally thousands of courses that are available from the U.S. Department of Interior.
The Personnel Division launched the on-line training program earlier this month.
"The pilot will run for four months and is divided into three phases," Personnel director Joanne U. Barry said. "The first phase targets the government information technology professionals."
These individuals, she said, are taking courses in Cisco Internetworking Technologies and Interconnecting Cisco Network Devices. Upon completing the courses and passing an examination, they will become Cisco Certified Network Architects. The CCNA is a "globally recognized certificate," Barry said.
The second phase of the program will be for employees who are volunteer trainers for Personnel's Virgin Islands Training Initiative program. They will enroll in Microsoft Word 2000 and Excel 2000 courses with the aim of becoming certified as Microsoft Office-user specialists.
The third phase is for Personnel staff and the personnel officers of various departments. They will take an on-line course in sexual harassment awareness and human resource management essentials.
In partnership with the Interior Department's National Business Center, Barry said, her division can offer more than 3,500 different training courses in technical and soft skills to V.I. government employees at reduced cost. The courses are offered through Interior's on-line DOI University.
For more information, see Information Technology or Skillsoft Courses.
The Personnel Division launched the on-line training program earlier this month.
"The pilot will run for four months and is divided into three phases," Personnel director Joanne U. Barry said. "The first phase targets the government information technology professionals."
These individuals, she said, are taking courses in Cisco Internetworking Technologies and Interconnecting Cisco Network Devices. Upon completing the courses and passing an examination, they will become Cisco Certified Network Architects. The CCNA is a "globally recognized certificate," Barry said.
The second phase of the program will be for employees who are volunteer trainers for Personnel's Virgin Islands Training Initiative program. They will enroll in Microsoft Word 2000 and Excel 2000 courses with the aim of becoming certified as Microsoft Office-user specialists.
The third phase is for Personnel staff and the personnel officers of various departments. They will take an on-line course in sexual harassment awareness and human resource management essentials.
In partnership with the Interior Department's National Business Center, Barry said, her division can offer more than 3,500 different training courses in technical and soft skills to V.I. government employees at reduced cost. The courses are offered through Interior's on-line DOI University.
For more information, see Information Technology or Skillsoft Courses.
MINORITY HAS ITS OWN AGENDA FOR SPECIAL SESSION
June 27, 2001 – The Legislature's minority senators announced Wednesday that they plan to offer a number of their own initiatives at the special session Gov. Charles W. Turnbull has called for Thursday.
All of their measures address "quality of life" or "business-related" issues, Sen. David Jones, minority leader, said in a release issued from Sen. Emmett Hansen II's office.
Items to be proposed by the minority, the release said, would:
– Authorize the governor to fund and implement an increase of up to 5 percent in retired government workers' annuities.
– Raise the minimum salary for government workers to $15,000 a year. At minimum wage, currently $5.15 per hour in the Virgin Islands, a full-time employee receives $10,712 annually.
– Appropriate $1 million from interest earned on matching funds, for the Police Department Bureau of Motor Vehicles and other purposes.
– Appropriate $750,000 from the General Fund to the Tourism Department, to fund a St. Croix jazz festival. St. Croix in 1993 and 1994 was the scene of a Jazz and Caribbean Music and Art Festival that received government funding.
– Appropriate $500,000 to the Government Development Bank, to fund a micro-credit loan program. This is a pet project of Sen. Roosevelt David, a member of the minority bloc. His plan is to make low-interest loans of $25,000 to $150,000, with less red tape than commercial banks require, to qualified individuals who want to start small businesses but lack capital and collateral.
"Through these initiatives," the release stated, "it is hoped that the economy will be stimulated, primarily by providing loans to entrepreneurs, bringing tourists to St. Croix … and fully funding a cost-of-living increase to a portion of our retirees." Providing funds to the police and "raising the lower end of the government pay scale," it said, "will also benefit the community at large."
The minority bloc issued its list of initiatives Wednesday as an addendum to Turnbull's $40 million-plus shopping list for the special session, released by Government House late Tuesday. For details on the governor's proposed supplemental appropriations, see the story titled Tobacco funds in danger; special session called.
The minority consists of six senators — Jones, Hansen, David, Lorraine Berry, Douglas Canton Jr., and Vargrave Richards. The seventh non-majority lawmaker, Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg, is unaligned.
All of their measures address "quality of life" or "business-related" issues, Sen. David Jones, minority leader, said in a release issued from Sen. Emmett Hansen II's office.
Items to be proposed by the minority, the release said, would:
– Authorize the governor to fund and implement an increase of up to 5 percent in retired government workers' annuities.
– Raise the minimum salary for government workers to $15,000 a year. At minimum wage, currently $5.15 per hour in the Virgin Islands, a full-time employee receives $10,712 annually.
– Appropriate $1 million from interest earned on matching funds, for the Police Department Bureau of Motor Vehicles and other purposes.
– Appropriate $750,000 from the General Fund to the Tourism Department, to fund a St. Croix jazz festival. St. Croix in 1993 and 1994 was the scene of a Jazz and Caribbean Music and Art Festival that received government funding.
– Appropriate $500,000 to the Government Development Bank, to fund a micro-credit loan program. This is a pet project of Sen. Roosevelt David, a member of the minority bloc. His plan is to make low-interest loans of $25,000 to $150,000, with less red tape than commercial banks require, to qualified individuals who want to start small businesses but lack capital and collateral.
"Through these initiatives," the release stated, "it is hoped that the economy will be stimulated, primarily by providing loans to entrepreneurs, bringing tourists to St. Croix … and fully funding a cost-of-living increase to a portion of our retirees." Providing funds to the police and "raising the lower end of the government pay scale," it said, "will also benefit the community at large."
The minority bloc issued its list of initiatives Wednesday as an addendum to Turnbull's $40 million-plus shopping list for the special session, released by Government House late Tuesday. For details on the governor's proposed supplemental appropriations, see the story titled Tobacco funds in danger; special session called.
The minority consists of six senators — Jones, Hansen, David, Lorraine Berry, Douglas Canton Jr., and Vargrave Richards. The seventh non-majority lawmaker, Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg, is unaligned.
TOBACCO FUNDS IN DANGER; SPECIAL SESSION CALLED
June 27, 2001 — As the Senate Finance Committee heard testimony Tuesday about the possible loss of the government’s share of the national tobacco settlement, Gov. Charles W. Turnbull was announcing a special session of the Legislature for Thursday to address the issue and submit a bill seeking more than $40 million in supplemental appropriations from the general fund for a variety of projects.
While the V.I. has already received $2,426,894 in tobacco settlement proceeds, the $1.4 million payment for 2001 is in jeopardy because of errors in the local legislation that allowed the government to participate in the suit. For the territory to collect its payment for 2001, clarifying amendments must be approved by July 1, Amadeo Francis, director of finance and administration for the Public Finance Authority, told senators. Although the territory missed the July 2000 deadline, no money has been withheld because the Legislature passed the bill in good faith,he said.
"Yes, we were late. It happened," Francis said. "But let’s face it. We failed, but so did a number of other jurisdictions."
The tobacco settlement is to bring the territory’s hospitals and public health system almost $50 million over a period of 25 years.
Meanwhile, Turnbull is seeking tens of millions of dollars from the general fund for fiscal year 2001, which ends on Sept. 30, to provide $5.3 million in local matching funds for federal disaster assistance and other purposes, including:
– $500,000 to the Education Department, to purchase food for school lunch program.
– $600,000 for increased rum promotion.
– $248,000 for the Agriculture Department, $50,000 of it to reimburse funds advanced to fund drought-relief efforts and $198,000 to contract for the services of the Humane Societies of St. Croix and St. Thomas and a service provider on St. John.
– $1.5 million in local matching funds so the V.I. Justice Department can replace a computer system in the Paternity and Child Support Division.
– $2.75 million for the Finance Department, for repairs, equipment and hiring personnel "to monitor and facilitate agreed-upon audit procedures and to pay for any additional costs associated with auditing of the government's financial records."
– $4 million to the Public Works Department, for road repair.
– $4.3 million to the V.I. Housing Authority, to reimburse costs incurred in development of disaster shelter housing in Estate Nazareth that the Federal Emergency Management Agency disallowed.
– $15 million to pay for "past-due utility costs."
– $78,354 for the Board of Education, to renovate its central office on St. Thomas.
– $395,000 for the Housing, Parks & Recreation Department, to demolish condemned housing.
– $1 million for a Justice Department settlement with Abamar-BB, a construction contractor.
– $250,000 for the maintenance of the territory’s sewage system.
– $4 million to acquire Wheaton Estate property — as much necessary for the government to protect the Magens Bay watershed and the surrounding areas.
– $1 million to the Property and Procurement Department, to acquire additional property for a public cemetery and necessary infrastructure on St. Thomas.
– $800,000 for repairs and renovation of Government House on St. Thomas, including the repair of the ballroom floor, replacement of hurricane shutters, renovation of supporting facilities, environmental assessments and mitigation.
– $600,000 to the Economic Development Agency, for operations and other expenses.
– $300,000 to the Bureau of Corrections, to repair and renovate correctional facilities.
– $500,000 to Fire Services, for personnel and associated costs.
– $250,000 to the Human Services Department, for the Pharmaceutical Assisted to the Aged Special Fund.
Turnbull’s bill also seeks to reprogram the unused portion of $15 million in bond proceeds to fund a retirement incentive plan for the payment of prior-years obligations.
The governor is also requesting that funds from the St. John Capital Improvement Fund be used for a variety of projects:
– $853,000 to Public Works, to pave roads, barge garbage, operate and maintain a waste-water treatment plant on St. John.
– $250,000 to repair, operate and maintain the Star of Life ambulance boat and pay debts for emergency transportation service between St. John and St. Thomas.
– $1 million for debts owed to St. John vendors by Public Works and other central government agencies.
– $41,500 to Property and Procurement to complete removal of underground storage tanks
Turnbull is also seeking money from the Indirect Cost Fund and the Anti-Litter and Beautification Fund:
– $160,000 to reimburse the U.S. Department of Agriculture for an overpayment of the indirect cost rate for the Women, Infants and Children program.
– $500,000 to Public Works for roadside cleanup and territory-wide beautification.
– $1 million to Public Works for the startup and operating costs for the V.I. Waste Management Authority.
The special session will also address the Uniform Commercial Code bill, specifically, Article 9. That concerns secured transactions between creditors and debtors; 1999 revisions to the article by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws have already been enacted in at least 27 states, with an effective date of July 1, 2001. The conference has urged all U.S. states and territories to enact the revisions by that date, saying "horrendous complications" could ensue for a jurisdiction failing to do so.
While the V.I. has already received $2,426,894 in tobacco settlement proceeds, the $1.4 million payment for 2001 is in jeopardy because of errors in the local legislation that allowed the government to participate in the suit. For the territory to collect its payment for 2001, clarifying amendments must be approved by July 1, Amadeo Francis, director of finance and administration for the Public Finance Authority, told senators. Although the territory missed the July 2000 deadline, no money has been withheld because the Legislature passed the bill in good faith,he said.
"Yes, we were late. It happened," Francis said. "But let’s face it. We failed, but so did a number of other jurisdictions."
The tobacco settlement is to bring the territory’s hospitals and public health system almost $50 million over a period of 25 years.
Meanwhile, Turnbull is seeking tens of millions of dollars from the general fund for fiscal year 2001, which ends on Sept. 30, to provide $5.3 million in local matching funds for federal disaster assistance and other purposes, including:
– $500,000 to the Education Department, to purchase food for school lunch program.
– $600,000 for increased rum promotion.
– $248,000 for the Agriculture Department, $50,000 of it to reimburse funds advanced to fund drought-relief efforts and $198,000 to contract for the services of the Humane Societies of St. Croix and St. Thomas and a service provider on St. John.
– $1.5 million in local matching funds so the V.I. Justice Department can replace a computer system in the Paternity and Child Support Division.
– $2.75 million for the Finance Department, for repairs, equipment and hiring personnel "to monitor and facilitate agreed-upon audit procedures and to pay for any additional costs associated with auditing of the government's financial records."
– $4 million to the Public Works Department, for road repair.
– $4.3 million to the V.I. Housing Authority, to reimburse costs incurred in development of disaster shelter housing in Estate Nazareth that the Federal Emergency Management Agency disallowed.
– $15 million to pay for "past-due utility costs."
– $78,354 for the Board of Education, to renovate its central office on St. Thomas.
– $395,000 for the Housing, Parks & Recreation Department, to demolish condemned housing.
– $1 million for a Justice Department settlement with Abamar-BB, a construction contractor.
– $250,000 for the maintenance of the territory’s sewage system.
– $4 million to acquire Wheaton Estate property — as much necessary for the government to protect the Magens Bay watershed and the surrounding areas.
– $1 million to the Property and Procurement Department, to acquire additional property for a public cemetery and necessary infrastructure on St. Thomas.
– $800,000 for repairs and renovation of Government House on St. Thomas, including the repair of the ballroom floor, replacement of hurricane shutters, renovation of supporting facilities, environmental assessments and mitigation.
– $600,000 to the Economic Development Agency, for operations and other expenses.
– $300,000 to the Bureau of Corrections, to repair and renovate correctional facilities.
– $500,000 to Fire Services, for personnel and associated costs.
– $250,000 to the Human Services Department, for the Pharmaceutical Assisted to the Aged Special Fund.
Turnbull’s bill also seeks to reprogram the unused portion of $15 million in bond proceeds to fund a retirement incentive plan for the payment of prior-years obligations.
The governor is also requesting that funds from the St. John Capital Improvement Fund be used for a variety of projects:
– $853,000 to Public Works, to pave roads, barge garbage, operate and maintain a waste-water treatment plant on St. John.
– $250,000 to repair, operate and maintain the Star of Life ambulance boat and pay debts for emergency transportation service between St. John and St. Thomas.
– $1 million for debts owed to St. John vendors by Public Works and other central government agencies.
– $41,500 to Property and Procurement to complete removal of underground storage tanks
Turnbull is also seeking money from the Indirect Cost Fund and the Anti-Litter and Beautification Fund:
– $160,000 to reimburse the U.S. Department of Agriculture for an overpayment of the indirect cost rate for the Women, Infants and Children program.
– $500,000 to Public Works for roadside cleanup and territory-wide beautification.
– $1 million to Public Works for the startup and operating costs for the V.I. Waste Management Authority.
The special session will also address the Uniform Commercial Code bill, specifically, Article 9. That concerns secured transactions between creditors and debtors; 1999 revisions to the article by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws have already been enacted in at least 27 states, with an effective date of July 1, 2001. The conference has urged all U.S. states and territories to enact the revisions by that date, saying "horrendous complications" could ensue for a jurisdiction failing to do so.
MEXICAN STEW IS WORTH A TRIP TO THE WEST END
June 28, 2001- At last, West Enders of St. Thomas, you have your own Mexican restaurant! You no longer need to drive to Tillett Gardens for enchiladas, fajitas and quesadillas. The Sunset Cantina on the shore of Gregerie East can fulfill most of your fondest desires.
And, East Enders, be advised: It is worth a trip through town to sample the Sunset Cantina's menudo. This Mexican stew should even appeal to those who favor West Indian food, with its mixture of beef tripe, pigs' feet, hominy, garlic and seasonings. Throw in a chili broth and serve with chopped onion, oregano, lemon wedges and corn tortillas, and you have a meal meant to be savored.
The enchiladas are filled with spicy meat — chicken or beef — or you can opt for the veggie version stuffed with chopped onion and cheese. All are all redolent of enchilada sauce and smothered with white and yellow cheese. I can recommend all three, all of which are served with pinto beans and seasoned rice.
And then there are the tamales. I'm a great fan of tamale sauce, which gives me several points to ponder. The Sunset Cantina's tamales are corn meal-wrapped beef or chicken that in turn is wrapped in corn husks. The entire production, about two inches in diameter, is drenched in sauce. You unwrap the things, suck the juice off your fingers and dig in.
In fact, the best way to eat tamales and beans is with your fingers, using tortillas to mop up the soft and runny stuff. The Cantina tamales are okay. Their sauce is very good, but the entire experience is simply too refined — too dry.
Word to the wise: If you like to wallow in your food, ask for some extra sauce.
Second word to the wise: If you do not appreciate hot sauce for dipping your tortilla chips, ask for mild sauce. Real Mexican food is not hot. Tex-Mex is hot — I tend to think it is because people who migrated to Texas are masochists. You will not be insulting any Maya or Aztec gods if you do not suffer.
The Sunset Cantina has the obligatory beers and hard liquor. I find Newcastle ale to be an excellent accompaniment to Mexican food. The various Mexican and wanna-be Mexican beers are fine until something better comes along. Bottom line: Something better came along — Newcastle on tap at the Cantina. I appreciate Mexican and West Indian peppers, but when I get too much of a good thing, the Newcastle brew does the job of restoring my palate.
The Sunset Cantina is a bit off the beaten path, but the environment on the West Gregerie bulkhead is worth the effort of getting there. Off Veterans Drive, you turn toward the water at Addelita Cancryn Junior High School and drive past the Coca-Cola bottling plant toward Frenchtown. At the second turn to the right there is a blue sign on a power pole pointing down the road. Follow it to the water and pull into the gravel stretch on the left. The entrance to the bar and restaurant are at the end of the two-story building on the water.
The restaurant is right on the water, and you can watch the traffic between Gregerie Channel and the cut into the Charlotte Amalie harbor. In the evening, the tourist vessel Leylon Sneed and the party raft Kon Tiki sometimes tie up right there.
The restrooms are satisfactory and were clean the evening I visited. There were two toilet paper dispensers and one had paper. There were two soap dispensers and one had soap. There were two methods of drying your hands, but the paper dispenser was empty and the blow-dry didn't work. Oh, well, my slacks were relatively clean.
According to a friend from Southern California who was raised in a Mexican environment, there are no real Mexican restaurants on St. Thomas. I tend to agree. In recent years, Polli's has generally been considered the best of what passes for Mexican locally. Now welcome the Sunset Cantina as another leading entry. I know I want some more of that menudo.
Sunset Cantina
Ambience: 4 stars
Food: 4 stars
Service: 4 stars
Value: 4 stars
Gregerie East Channel, west end of Frenchtown, dockside
(340) 777-4014
Lunch/Dinner 11 a.m.-10 p.m. daily
South of the Border
Amex, Visa, MasterCard
And, East Enders, be advised: It is worth a trip through town to sample the Sunset Cantina's menudo. This Mexican stew should even appeal to those who favor West Indian food, with its mixture of beef tripe, pigs' feet, hominy, garlic and seasonings. Throw in a chili broth and serve with chopped onion, oregano, lemon wedges and corn tortillas, and you have a meal meant to be savored.
The enchiladas are filled with spicy meat — chicken or beef — or you can opt for the veggie version stuffed with chopped onion and cheese. All are all redolent of enchilada sauce and smothered with white and yellow cheese. I can recommend all three, all of which are served with pinto beans and seasoned rice.
And then there are the tamales. I'm a great fan of tamale sauce, which gives me several points to ponder. The Sunset Cantina's tamales are corn meal-wrapped beef or chicken that in turn is wrapped in corn husks. The entire production, about two inches in diameter, is drenched in sauce. You unwrap the things, suck the juice off your fingers and dig in.
In fact, the best way to eat tamales and beans is with your fingers, using tortillas to mop up the soft and runny stuff. The Cantina tamales are okay. Their sauce is very good, but the entire experience is simply too refined — too dry.
Word to the wise: If you like to wallow in your food, ask for some extra sauce.
Second word to the wise: If you do not appreciate hot sauce for dipping your tortilla chips, ask for mild sauce. Real Mexican food is not hot. Tex-Mex is hot — I tend to think it is because people who migrated to Texas are masochists. You will not be insulting any Maya or Aztec gods if you do not suffer.
The Sunset Cantina has the obligatory beers and hard liquor. I find Newcastle ale to be an excellent accompaniment to Mexican food. The various Mexican and wanna-be Mexican beers are fine until something better comes along. Bottom line: Something better came along — Newcastle on tap at the Cantina. I appreciate Mexican and West Indian peppers, but when I get too much of a good thing, the Newcastle brew does the job of restoring my palate.
The Sunset Cantina is a bit off the beaten path, but the environment on the West Gregerie bulkhead is worth the effort of getting there. Off Veterans Drive, you turn toward the water at Addelita Cancryn Junior High School and drive past the Coca-Cola bottling plant toward Frenchtown. At the second turn to the right there is a blue sign on a power pole pointing down the road. Follow it to the water and pull into the gravel stretch on the left. The entrance to the bar and restaurant are at the end of the two-story building on the water.
The restaurant is right on the water, and you can watch the traffic between Gregerie Channel and the cut into the Charlotte Amalie harbor. In the evening, the tourist vessel Leylon Sneed and the party raft Kon Tiki sometimes tie up right there.
The restrooms are satisfactory and were clean the evening I visited. There were two toilet paper dispensers and one had paper. There were two soap dispensers and one had soap. There were two methods of drying your hands, but the paper dispenser was empty and the blow-dry didn't work. Oh, well, my slacks were relatively clean.
According to a friend from Southern California who was raised in a Mexican environment, there are no real Mexican restaurants on St. Thomas. I tend to agree. In recent years, Polli's has generally been considered the best of what passes for Mexican locally. Now welcome the Sunset Cantina as another leading entry. I know I want some more of that menudo.
Sunset Cantina
Ambience: 4 stars
Food: 4 stars
Service: 4 stars
Value: 4 stars
Gregerie East Channel, west end of Frenchtown, dockside
(340) 777-4014
Lunch/Dinner 11 a.m.-10 p.m. daily
South of the Border
Amex, Visa, MasterCard
Editor's note: The Tottering Taster is a senior citizen dedicated to enjoying good food who periodically dines in local establishments to bring Source readers unsolicited assessments biased in favor of an ultimate eating-out experience. The individual uses a pseudonym so restaurant personnel will not be able to identify the reviewer and try to influence the review.
185 HOVENSA CONTRACTOR WORKERS TO LOSE JOBS
June 26, 2001 — Concerns raised by some senators about layoffs at the Hovensa refinery were confirmed by company officials on Tuesday when it was announced that 185 employees of a refinery contractor will be terminated.
The notice of the layoffs comes days before Friday’s Senate hearing on the labor practices of subcontractors at the St. Croix refinery.
In a letter on June 20, Sen. Norman Jn Baptiste told Acting Labor Commissioner Cecil Benjamin of his concerns about a possible merger of companies working on the $535 million coker project that would result in employess being transferred and laid off. In addition, Jn Baptiste said he had information that the laid-off employees wouldn’t be eligible for severance pay or accrued benefits.
Jn Baptiste asked the Labor Department to begin an inquiry into the "numerous complaints" his office has received. In the meantime, Sen. Norma Pickard-Samuel, chair of the Labor and Veterans Affairs Committee, has scheduled a hearing for Friday evening to look into labor issues at the refinery, which have been tenuous in recent weeks.
On Monday, Alex Moorhead, Hovensa vice president for human resources, responded to Jn Baptiste’s concerns. He said that none of the contractors on the coker project is involved in a reorganization or merger. The reports Jn Baptiste has received, Moorhead said, are "probably the result of misinformation concerning a pending change by our company relative to the maintenance of the facility."
Moorhead said Hovensa is set to reorganize its maintenance department, which will entail another contractor taking over work that was being done by Jacobs Industrial Maintenance Co.
Jacobs-IMC currently employs 185 people to hydro-blast mechanical equipment, paint and clean storage tanks. Starting July 2, Triangle Construction and Maintenance will perform those tasks.
The 185 workers, Moorhead said, make up a small percentage of Jacob-IMC’s workforce of 1,100. He also dismissed Jn Baptiste’s concerns that the terminated employees won’t receive severance pay.
It is Hovensa’s understanding that "because less than 50 percent of Jacob-IMC’s employees will be terminated as a result of Jacob-IMC’s loss of the contract for this portion of Hovensa’s maintenance work," the V.I. plant closing law "does not apply to this situation," Moorhead said. "Jacobs-IMC has informed our company that it will nonetheless pay the employees whom it will terminate whatever severance pay they are entitled to" pursuant to its labor agreement with the United Steelworkers of America, he added.
News of the layoffs follows labor unrest at the coker construction site about two weeks ago, when hundreds of workers walked off the job for a day. Steelworkers union members claimed that James International Construction, a Bechtel International subcontractor, had imported workers from Puerto Rico and the U.S. mainland while Bechtel laid off more than 60 local workers. Bechtel is the general contractor in charge of the coker project.
In August of 1999, Jacobs Panamerican Corp. and Virgin Islands Industrial Maintenance Corp., the largest maintenance contractor at the refinery, merged to perform the duties of the refinery’s primary maintenance contractor.
Some maintenance tasks that were being done by Hovensa employees at the time of the merger were assigned to Jacobs-ICM. Hovensa workers whose jobs were eliminated in the reorganization were offered similar positions with Jacobs-ICM or offered different jobs within Hovensa.
Hovensa employees who chose not to accept reassignment were given the option of severance benefits.
The notice of the layoffs comes days before Friday’s Senate hearing on the labor practices of subcontractors at the St. Croix refinery.
In a letter on June 20, Sen. Norman Jn Baptiste told Acting Labor Commissioner Cecil Benjamin of his concerns about a possible merger of companies working on the $535 million coker project that would result in employess being transferred and laid off. In addition, Jn Baptiste said he had information that the laid-off employees wouldn’t be eligible for severance pay or accrued benefits.
Jn Baptiste asked the Labor Department to begin an inquiry into the "numerous complaints" his office has received. In the meantime, Sen. Norma Pickard-Samuel, chair of the Labor and Veterans Affairs Committee, has scheduled a hearing for Friday evening to look into labor issues at the refinery, which have been tenuous in recent weeks.
On Monday, Alex Moorhead, Hovensa vice president for human resources, responded to Jn Baptiste’s concerns. He said that none of the contractors on the coker project is involved in a reorganization or merger. The reports Jn Baptiste has received, Moorhead said, are "probably the result of misinformation concerning a pending change by our company relative to the maintenance of the facility."
Moorhead said Hovensa is set to reorganize its maintenance department, which will entail another contractor taking over work that was being done by Jacobs Industrial Maintenance Co.
Jacobs-IMC currently employs 185 people to hydro-blast mechanical equipment, paint and clean storage tanks. Starting July 2, Triangle Construction and Maintenance will perform those tasks.
The 185 workers, Moorhead said, make up a small percentage of Jacob-IMC’s workforce of 1,100. He also dismissed Jn Baptiste’s concerns that the terminated employees won’t receive severance pay.
It is Hovensa’s understanding that "because less than 50 percent of Jacob-IMC’s employees will be terminated as a result of Jacob-IMC’s loss of the contract for this portion of Hovensa’s maintenance work," the V.I. plant closing law "does not apply to this situation," Moorhead said. "Jacobs-IMC has informed our company that it will nonetheless pay the employees whom it will terminate whatever severance pay they are entitled to" pursuant to its labor agreement with the United Steelworkers of America, he added.
News of the layoffs follows labor unrest at the coker construction site about two weeks ago, when hundreds of workers walked off the job for a day. Steelworkers union members claimed that James International Construction, a Bechtel International subcontractor, had imported workers from Puerto Rico and the U.S. mainland while Bechtel laid off more than 60 local workers. Bechtel is the general contractor in charge of the coker project.
In August of 1999, Jacobs Panamerican Corp. and Virgin Islands Industrial Maintenance Corp., the largest maintenance contractor at the refinery, merged to perform the duties of the refinery’s primary maintenance contractor.
Some maintenance tasks that were being done by Hovensa employees at the time of the merger were assigned to Jacobs-ICM. Hovensa workers whose jobs were eliminated in the reorganization were offered similar positions with Jacobs-ICM or offered different jobs within Hovensa.
Hovensa employees who chose not to accept reassignment were given the option of severance benefits.
TRACK AND FIELD CLINICS GETTING STARTED AT CAHS
June 26, 2001 — Cheetah's Tracks Racing Team is holding a six-week series of track and field clinics for athletes from the age of 6 through adult, from 3 to 6 p.m. weekdays.
The program, at the Charlotte Amalie High School track, began Wednesday, June 27, and will continue through the first week of August. It was not necessary to sign up or be present the first day in order to participate, a representative said.
The clinic is focusing on development of the athlete's mental and physical abilities and specific disciplines that can be addressed, including sprints, growth and development, distance running, training theory, discus, biomechanics, shot put, nutrition, long jump and triple jump.
The program is open to athletes of all ages, children through seniors, the representative said.
The fee for the program is $60 overall, or $25 for a specific discipline. Call Dale at 777-3959 for more information.
The program, at the Charlotte Amalie High School track, began Wednesday, June 27, and will continue through the first week of August. It was not necessary to sign up or be present the first day in order to participate, a representative said.
The clinic is focusing on development of the athlete's mental and physical abilities and specific disciplines that can be addressed, including sprints, growth and development, distance running, training theory, discus, biomechanics, shot put, nutrition, long jump and triple jump.
The program is open to athletes of all ages, children through seniors, the representative said.
The fee for the program is $60 overall, or $25 for a specific discipline. Call Dale at 777-3959 for more information.
TRACK AND FIELD CLINICS AT CAHS
Cheetah's Tracks Racing Team will hold a series of track and field clinics, for athletes ages 6 and older, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., beginning Wednesday, June 27, through the first week of August, at the Charlotte Amalie High School track.
The clinic will focus on development of the athlete's mental and physical abilities and specific disciplines that can be addressed, including sprints, growth and development, distance running, training theory, discus, biomechanics, shot put, nutrition, long jump, and triple jump.
The fee for the six week program is $60 or $25 for a specific discipline.
Call Dale at 777-3959 for more information.
The clinic will focus on development of the athlete's mental and physical abilities and specific disciplines that can be addressed, including sprints, growth and development, distance running, training theory, discus, biomechanics, shot put, nutrition, long jump, and triple jump.
The fee for the six week program is $60 or $25 for a specific discipline.
Call Dale at 777-3959 for more information.
UVI BULLETIN BOARD
St. Croix Campus Open House
The UVI Counseling and Placement Office on the St.Croix Campus invites 7th-12th grade students and their parents to the UVI St. Croix Campus Open House to be held on Thursdays, June 28, July 12, and July 19, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
This is an opportunity for junior and senior high school students to learn more about the advantages of attending college, current trends in university life, admissions and financial aid. The program is free and will include a campus tour and refreshments. To register for one of the open house dates contact Robin S. Groelle at 692-4187.
Cultural and Ecological History of Salt River workshop
UVI's Cooperative Extension Service, Agriculture and Natural Resources Program will hold a workshop on the "Cultural and Ecological History of Salt River" on Thursday, June 28, at 6 p.m. in the UVI Research and Extension Center, room 133. For more information call Olassee Davis at 692-4053.
St. Croix's Mango Melee and Tropical Fruit Festival
UVI's Cooperative Extension Service, UVI Agricultural Experiment Station, St. George Village Botanical Garden and the VI Department of Agriculture and Bio Impact present the 5th Annual Mango Melee and Tropical Fruits Festival. The festival will be held on Sunday, July 8, at the St. George Village Botanical Garden from noon to 6 p.m. Admission is $3 for adults, $1 for children under 12 years old.
This is a day for the whole family, with games for the kids, food, music, garden tours and a farmer's market.
For more information call 692-4080.
Anyone interested in entering the Mango Melee and Tropical Fruits Festival "Tasters Choice" competition should call Clint Ferris at 692-4188 or Alice Henry at 692-4092.
UVI Scholarship Fundraiser Dance
The UVI Alumni Association is hosting a scholarship fundraiser dance from 10 p.m. until 1 a.m. Saturday, July 7, at "The Nest" in Long Bush, Tortola, BVI.
Music will be provided by Lashing Dogs and proceeds will go to the UVI BVI Alumni Chapter Scholarship Fund.
Tickets are available at Bobby's Marketplace in Roadtown, Tortola and at UVI Alumni Affairs Office, St. Thomas Campus. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door.
For more information, call Jacqueline Sprauve at 693-1046.
UVI Workshop on coastal hazards
The Water Resources Research Institute (WRRI) at UVI and the State University of West Georgia will sponsor a free mini-course and workshop on coastal hazards in St. Thomas from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday, July 16, through Friday, July 20.
The course, which will take place in the Teacher Education Building, Room T101, on the St. Thomas campus, will consist of a three-day conference and two days of field trips.
To register and to obtain further information, please call Dr. Rosenid Hernandez-Badia at 693-1383.
For more about the University of the Virgin Islands, check the website at www.uvi.edu.
The UVI Counseling and Placement Office on the St.Croix Campus invites 7th-12th grade students and their parents to the UVI St. Croix Campus Open House to be held on Thursdays, June 28, July 12, and July 19, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
This is an opportunity for junior and senior high school students to learn more about the advantages of attending college, current trends in university life, admissions and financial aid. The program is free and will include a campus tour and refreshments. To register for one of the open house dates contact Robin S. Groelle at 692-4187.
Cultural and Ecological History of Salt River workshop
UVI's Cooperative Extension Service, Agriculture and Natural Resources Program will hold a workshop on the "Cultural and Ecological History of Salt River" on Thursday, June 28, at 6 p.m. in the UVI Research and Extension Center, room 133. For more information call Olassee Davis at 692-4053.
St. Croix's Mango Melee and Tropical Fruit Festival
UVI's Cooperative Extension Service, UVI Agricultural Experiment Station, St. George Village Botanical Garden and the VI Department of Agriculture and Bio Impact present the 5th Annual Mango Melee and Tropical Fruits Festival. The festival will be held on Sunday, July 8, at the St. George Village Botanical Garden from noon to 6 p.m. Admission is $3 for adults, $1 for children under 12 years old.
This is a day for the whole family, with games for the kids, food, music, garden tours and a farmer's market.
For more information call 692-4080.
Anyone interested in entering the Mango Melee and Tropical Fruits Festival "Tasters Choice" competition should call Clint Ferris at 692-4188 or Alice Henry at 692-4092.
UVI Scholarship Fundraiser Dance
The UVI Alumni Association is hosting a scholarship fundraiser dance from 10 p.m. until 1 a.m. Saturday, July 7, at "The Nest" in Long Bush, Tortola, BVI.
Music will be provided by Lashing Dogs and proceeds will go to the UVI BVI Alumni Chapter Scholarship Fund.
Tickets are available at Bobby's Marketplace in Roadtown, Tortola and at UVI Alumni Affairs Office, St. Thomas Campus. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door.
For more information, call Jacqueline Sprauve at 693-1046.
UVI Workshop on coastal hazards
The Water Resources Research Institute (WRRI) at UVI and the State University of West Georgia will sponsor a free mini-course and workshop on coastal hazards in St. Thomas from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday, July 16, through Friday, July 20.
The course, which will take place in the Teacher Education Building, Room T101, on the St. Thomas campus, will consist of a three-day conference and two days of field trips.
To register and to obtain further information, please call Dr. Rosenid Hernandez-Badia at 693-1383.
For more about the University of the Virgin Islands, check the website at www.uvi.edu.
V.I. LOTTERY DRAWING RESCHEDULED
Lottery dealers and the playing public is informed that drawing #542 scheduled for Friday, July 6, has been changed to Tuesday, July 10.
Lottery Executive Director Austin Andrews apologizes for any inconvenience this change may cause the public.
Lottery Executive Director Austin Andrews apologizes for any inconvenience this change may cause the public.
